Claremont Things to Do

This is really more of a must see for people who are coming to Claremont to tour the colleges. Or if you are in Claremont and you are bored, then you can take a look.

Maybe I didnt go to a nice college or one with a good close community, but if someone tied hammocks in the trees at my college, they would have been stolen. But at Pitzer college, one of the Claremont Colleges, they have several hammocks tied up in the trees. It looks as though they just leave them there for anyone to use. Maybe its just me, cuase I love hammocks, but this is such a wonderful idea. In between classes or if you want to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon reading, they have the hammocks there. I know, I am sure they are supposed to be only for the students, but I just thought it was such a great idea.

Another thing about the colleges is that sometime they have some good musical acts,lectures and other interesting things. http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/calendar.asp

The Botanical Gardens in Claremont are a rare treat. I have fond memories of going to the gardens my freshman year of high school with my environmental science class. Now, I take walks there with my big sister. The gardens are a beautiful collection of diverse natural habitats, complete with gorgeous trees, flowers, and little critters. There are tons of user-friendly trails that are not too physically taxing.

Great little park at the base of the San Gabriel mountains. Well maintained trails suit reasonably fit people. Great views of the Pomona Valley . Approx 5 mile round trip according to sources. A lot of bikers, hikers and runners use this wilderness. Two parking lots available. Beware- mountain lions have been seen in the area. Due to the extensive fires November 2003 this park was closed. Most of it was burned and there is a danger of mudslides during the rainy season.
As of fall 2005 the wilderness area has recovered beyond expectations. We had great wildflowers after the fires.

The Claremont Wilderness park is quite popular with locals. In the early AM, afterwork and on weekends people, their dogs and bikes fill the trails. You can enter the trail/park from the top of Mills Ave. or you can enter from the West. Go to the top of Mountain Ave. and park on the last Street, Santa Catalina. This is Johnson's pasture--a 100 acre parcel the city of Claremont is negotiating to purchase for around 11 million to prevent it from being turned into high end homes. Johnson's pasture burned a couple of years back. It is making a spectacular comeback. The best time of year to hike is November to May. I particularly like to go in the spring after a rain. There is snow on the mountains, the air is clear, the views fabulous and the hillsides are green.

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Have a good meal and see good theatre! Take a trip to Ben Bollinger's Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre! This place is not to be missed while you're in town and it's a great deal for a very nice meal and a show combination plus as I mentioned in another post, you can get a deal for the dinner and show PLUS a night a the Doubletree for what it normally costs for just the hotel room. You can't beat that! The shows are always good, you will not be disappointed. Many performers here are Equity actors who have been in National tours or even go on to Broadway. The Bollinger's also own the new Three Forks Chop House in the Packing House. By the way, you MUST order dessert even though that's not included in your meal price. Their ice cream is home made and very yummy! Their Christmas show is an original work, a new show every year!

Just about the only thing in this tiny town. Probably the only reason anyone would visit Claremont.
The Claremont Colleges are beautiful and very East Coast style. Unlike most other Southern Cali colleges.

Once a year, usually the week before Halloween, the Claremont village has a street fair with artists, craftsman, and delicious food. When I was little, I used to get my face painted like a cat adn eat caramel apples. It is a fun, wholesome day!

Laemmle's theaters show off beat and foreign movies you don't get anywhere else. Now we don't have to go to Pasadena anymore!